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Turkish Press Review, 09-02-26
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
26.02.2009
CONTENTS
[01] THY PLANE CRASHES NEAR AMSTERDAM, KILLING NINE
[02] PM ERDOGAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES FOR VICTIMS OF CRASH
[03] GUL RECEIVES US MIDEAST ENVOY MITCHELL
[04] CAMPAIGNING IN AFYON, ERDOGAN LAMBASTES DTP AND MHP LEADERS
[05] US AMBASSADOR JEFFREY VISITS BAGIS
[06] ANNUAL US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CRITICIZES PRESSURE ON THE PRESS
[07] TUZMEN VISITS GEORGIA IN BID TO BOOST TRADE TIES
[01] THY PLANE CRASHES NEAR AMSTERDAM, KILLING NINE
A Turkish Airlines (THY) passenger plane with 134 people on board,
including seven crew members, yesterday crashed in a field while trying to
land at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, killing nine and injuring 84. Six of
the injured were in serious condition, Dutch and Turkish officials
confirmed. The plane split in three as it crashed in a field near the
runway of the airport, which is 20 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam's
center. The dead included three pilots onboard identified as Hasan Tahsin
Arisan, Olgay Ozgur and Murat Sezer. Breaking into three distinct sections,
the plane crucially did not catch fire at the moment of impact, reportedly
the single biggest reason why so many survived the crash. Amid much
speculation over the cause of the crash, officials said that they would
withhold comment until after examining the plane's flight data recorder.
/All papers/
[02] PM ERDOGAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES FOR VICTIMS OF CRASH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday gave his condolences to the
relatives of those who lost their lives in a plane crash in the
Netherlands. "Our crisis desk, together with the civil aviation authorities,
has been monitoring the investigation being carried out at the scene," he
said. "The process is being closely monitored. We hope that all the injured
passengers survive this accident. Our wish is that we overcome this
accident with minimal damage." Dutch Premier Jan Peter Balkanende
telephoned Erdogan to offer his condolences for the casualties. He said he
was personally following developments concerning the crash, reassuring
Erdogan that Dutch authorities were providing all necessary aid.
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said that the cause of the crash
would be determined after an investigation. "The crashed plane recently
underwent maintenance by civilian aviation authorities," he said. Speaking
to reporters alongside THY Director General Temel Kotil, THY Executive
Board Chairman Candan Karlitekin said the captain of the plane was a very
experienced pilot. He also briefed President Abdullah Gul on the crash.
Aviation experts said the way the pilot landed the plane had prevented the
crash from being more deadly. / Turkiye/
[03] GUL RECEIVES US MIDEAST ENVOY MITCHELL
US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell yesterday arrived in Ankara to
held talks with top officials. After meeting with Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan, Mitchell and his delegation were received by President Abdullah
Gul, with Babacan and US Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey also in
attendance. Issues reportedly discussed during the meeting included the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Turkey again taking command of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan this year,
and the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Mitchell reportedly reiterated Turkey's importance in the Middle East for
the US. /Aksam/
[04] CAMPAIGNING IN AFYON, ERDOGAN LAMBASTES DTP AND MHP LEADERS
Addressing a campaign rally in Afyon yesterday ahead of local elections
late next month, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Democratic
Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Turk for addressing the party's deputies
in Kurdish during its group meeting in Parliament this week, accusing him
of "trying to stoke tension." He added, "One who opposed TRT 6, (the state)
Kurdish-language TV station, is trying to cause crises through violating
the Constitution," as Turkish is the official language of all group
meetings in Parliament. Erdogan also implicitly criticized opposition
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli saying about the
incident, "Parliament should do what is necessary to counter this
betrayal." Saying that some are trying to lay the groundwork for tension
and conflict, Erdogan said, "On the one side, there is a repressive mindset
which doesn't allow a dialect to be spoken in daily life, and on the other,
there are some who make shows through violating the Constitution." /Star/
[05] US AMBASSADOR JEFFREY VISITS BAGIS
US Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey yesterday visited State Minister and
chief EU talks negotiator Egemen Bagis. During his visit, Jeffery stated
that the US supports Turkey's EU bid, adding, "Turkey's future is very
important for the US, and it will play a very important role in the West."
/Sabah/
[06] ANNUAL US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CRITICIZES PRESSURE ON THE PRESS
In its annual Human Rights Report released yesterday, the US State
Department had some critical remarks on press freedom in Turkey. "The
government generally respected the human rights of its citizens (in 2008);
however, serious problems remained in some areas," said the report. "The
law provides for freedom of speech and of the press; however, the
government continued to limit these freedoms in occasional cases. Some
senior government officials made statements during the year strongly
criticizing the press … Prosecutors harassed writers, journalists, and
political figures by bringing dozens of cases to court each year under
various laws that restricted media freedom; however, judges dismissed many
of these charges … Some members of the AK Party (ruling Justice and
Development) party and Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan continued to
file suits against journalists and cartoonists during the year … Several
large holding companies which owned news agencies in the country were
concerned over losing business opportunities if their journalists wrote
articles critical of the government … Senior government officials,
including Prime Minister Erdogan, made statements during the year strongly
criticizing the press and media business figures, particularly following
the publishing of reports on alleged corruption in entities in Germany
connected to the ruling party." Also touching on the ongoing Ergenekon
probe, the report said, "On July 14, prosecutors in Istanbul indicted 90
persons, including prominent military, business, and press corps
personalities, on charges of plotting to foment unrest and topple the
elected government as members of an organization labeled the 'Ergenekon
Network.' … Several individuals were held without charge for
approximately a month prior to the July 14 indictment." /Milliyet/
[07] TUZMEN VISITS GEORGIA IN BID TO BOOST TRADE TIES
On his seventh official visit to neighboring countries this year as part of
Turkey's strategy to cushion the blow of the global economic crisis on
exports, State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that
Georgia will soon ease customs procedures for Turkish entrepreneurs. After
meeting with Georgian President Michael Saakashvili as part of his visit
with a large business delegation, Tuzmen said the Georgian leader had
promised to solve the problems that Turkish businesspeople face at Georgian
customs and in operating in the country. He said Georgia expects to soon
initiate a comprehensive infrastructure project using $4.5 billion in loans
from international institutions and funds, and that Turkish contractors
expect to get a $1.5 billion share of this. Georgia plans to hold tenders
for a series of projects, including the construction of highways, mass
housing and public buildings. Tuzmen also met with Georgian Prime Minister
Nikoloz Gilauri. /Hurriyet/
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